Carmen Sandiego: Secret of the Stolen Drums

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Stealing her way onto consoles.

By Mary Jane Irwin

Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? IGN has finally tracked down the Secret of the Stolen Drums, Bam! Entertainment's new game based on the popular computer franchise that inspired thousands of kids to learn their geography. In fact, the series was so popular that PBS created a geography based game show (which included cartoons and sing-a-longs). Now, you (rookie Cole Gannon) will have the chance to join up with A.C.M.E agents Jules Argent and Shadow Hawkins as they hunt for the legendary mastermind behind the V.I.L.E. network (which orchestrates thefts of the world's most precious artifacts and landmarks), Carmen Sandiego.

African antiquities have "gone missing" from museums around the world. The A.C.M.E. team thinks this adds up to more than a few clumsy curators -- in fact, these disappearances bear a striking resemblance to Carmen's previous capers. Of course, A.C.M.E. fears the worst -- that Carmen is after the eight sacred drums that have the power to unlock the secrets of an African treasure.

Rumors out of Africa speculate that the last descendant of an African King let slip a dangerous secret on his death bed. In the heart of the Rwanda jungles hides a temple that guards a diamond. Not content with being a mere precious stone, this rock has the uncanny property of possessing the knowledge of all nations (what this means, we don't know). The temple doesn't exist on any map, but map fragments have been etched into the skins of eight drums scattered throughout the world. If these drums are reunited, then the temple can be opened (these drums and temple also happen to be guarded by mysterious powers). We aren't quite sure why Carmen wants the diamond or what its powers might be used for -- but obviously it can't rest in the hands of a thief.

As you hunt for Carmen, you'll scour nine different locations around the globe for clues. You won't get very far if you're spotted by one of Carmen's henchmen or can't escape from the drums' elemental guardians, so Carmen Sandiego will require Cole to stealthily sneak around enemies. When there just isn't any way to avoid detection, Cole's trusty staff can be used to beat up bad guys or he can use it as a blowgun to shoot down air spirits and distract enemies. Obstacles getting in your way? Your staff can also be used to pole-vault over objects and activate distant switches with the blow gun attachment. If your obstruction is of the security device ilk (like motion detectors or laser beams) you can use your personal computer to disarm them (as well as communicate with A.C.M.E. and view case files. The Secret of the Stolen Drums isn't just about the action, you will also have to use your noggin to solve puzzles and learn about the history and geography of the places you visit.

This conglomeration of action, stealth, adventure, and puzzle solving will appear on the GameCube, Playstation 2, and Xbox. It appears to be quite a departure from the PC Games, which have relied primarily on puzzle solving and a fairly static interface rather than action. Also, you'll now be in charge of hunting for clues from a third person perspective (which will aid you in pole-vaulting over those walls).

We'll be aiding A.C.M.E. in the investigation of The Secret of the Stolen Drums later this month and will let you know just how much Carmen Sandiego has changed for her console debut. Get ready for some educational sleuthing later this quarter. Meanwhile, you can check out screens of the new Carmen Sandiego in our media pages (notice the new cartoon styling).